Method and apparatus for straightening sheet material



Oct. 1l., 1938. F. K. MussNEsr METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENINGSHEET MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept, 4, 1935 F. K. MUSSNESTMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING SHEET MATERIAL Oct. 11, `1938.

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l Q Q INVENTOR Patented Oot. 11, 1938 y UNITED 4STATI-:sl

METHOD AND APPARATUSl lFoa STRAIGHT- ENmG SHEET MATERIAL f Friedrioh K.Mussnost, Woodside, N. Y., ossignor to Hedweg Miussnest, Woodside, N. Y.

Application september 4, 1935, serial No. `39,091

19 Claims.

The great majority of roller levelers heretofore.

in use have employed the` principle of inclining the upper set ofstraightening rolls relative to the lower set of straightening rolls, orvice versa,

in order to produce deep corrugations at the entry-side of the sheet andwaves or corrugations of gradually diminishing magnitude towards theexit side of the machine. Such adjustments may have beeny made either byindividual roll adjustments or by unit adjustment of one row ofstraightening rolls with respect tothe other.

These known designs however have la number of shortcomings. It is forinstance necessary to readjust the inclination of the rollswhen thestraightening direction is reversed.` Furthermore, the work sheet issubjected to the deepest corrugations or waves at the entry side of themachine so that it is diiicult to start a sheet in the machine. Tofacilitate. the feeding of the work material, pinch rolls and thellkehave been used before.' Due to the fact that the deepest waves areproduced at the entry side of the machines, thetraction of the rolls isnot sulcient to carry the sheet into thelrolls Without slipping.

so Such slipping of the sheet between the rolls is accompanied bytransverse marks on the sheet.

The`se marks are called entry marksl in the steel trade.k To' eliminatethese entry marks,

that portion of the sheet whichshows the same u has to be sheared on'.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide means for theadjustment' of the straightening roll inclination so as to eliminatereadJustment of the straighteningv rolls when the operating direction ofthe machine is reversed.

Another object is to provide means for facilitating the feeding ofthework sheet into the entry rolls of the machine, whereby entry marks maybe eliminated for work material of diering u hardness. p

These and other objects which will be pointed out inthe specications andespecially in the claims .to follow, I attain by means of my inventiondisclosed in the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a sheet straightening machine. Y

Fig. 2 is asectional front view of the machine on line 2 2 Fig. i.

Fig. 3 isa top View of the machine.l

u Fig. 4 illustrates a. sectional front view of a supporting arrangementof a tilting roller block on line 4-4 Fig. 1.

` Fig. 5 is a sectionai side view of a tilting roller block andsupporting arrangement on line 5-5 Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 depicts an adjusting device forthe height 5 `adjustment block online 6 -6 Fig. 1.

Fig. 'l shows a sectional side view of the wing adjustment mechanism online .1-1 Fig; 2.

Fig. 8 is a sectional front view of a coupling on lo line 8-8 Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 illustrates a sectional top View of parts of a tilting block orwing on line 9-9 Fig. 1.

Figs. 10 and 11 show diagrammatically roller arrangement with dlierentdisplacements of the 15 tilting wings.

Fig. 12 illustrates diagrammatically a modled roller arrangement withthe supporting rolls positioned on top of the straightening rolls;

In Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive, one embodiment of the invention is shown byway of example in connection with roller levelers having supporting .orbacking rolls which are arrangedvin staggered relation to thestraightening rolls. In order to A preserve a unit height adjustment forall the upper rolls and at the same time provide means for theindependent angular adjustment of the straightening rolls on the entryas well as on the exit or delivery side of the machine, the upper row ofstraightening rolls is divided into three .o sections.

Referring more particularly to Figs. l., 2 and 3, the machine comprisestwo frame elements or housings I5 which are suitably connected to eachend of the base I6. Each housing I5 includes two parallel uprights I1and one cap frame i8 secured toV said uprights. Two cross beams I! areprovided to strength and stiften the housings I5.

For adjusting all upper straightening rolls as a 40 unit, each of thetwo adjustable blocks 2li, one of which is located in each housing I5,is provided with two suspension screws 2i, Fig. 6. Screws 2| engagethreaded sleeves 22 which are rotatably' guided in* cap frames I8. Atthe top 45 of each sleeve is a worm-wheel 23 rotatable by a worm 24. Thelower ends of screws 2i are mounted on` pivots I4 in blocks 20. Blocks20 are guided on uprights I1 by gibs I3.

By raising or lowering the screws 2i, the com- 50 plete upper roll unitmay be raised or lowered which is essential in order to regulate thedistance between the upper and lower straightening rolls according tothe thickness of the work material.

placed along each straightening roll tFig. 2).

right tilting frames 55 and 59 respectively, have different tasks.Whenfeeding a work sheet from left to right in Fig. 10, the right wing59 must smooth out or atten the deep corrugations produced by the middlesection of the machine (rolls 35, 44, 43, 42, 4i). 'I'he elimination ofthese deep corrugations or waves is accomplished by tilting the rolls58, 51, 56 of the right wing 59 in such a manner that the apex of thetilting angle is directed towards the middle section of the machine.'I'he tilting of the right wing 5!!v is shown to have as fulcrum thelongitudinal axis of straightening ,roll 58. Thus the latter will not beraised by the tilting movement, but will maintain the same relativeposition to the lower straightening rolls.' Rolls 51 and 56, however,

Cross beam 34 which is shown to be fast to will be raised differingamounts relative to their adjustable blocks 20 forms part of the middlecooperating lower straightening rolls. The dissection of the upper rollunit and sustains tance between rolls 51 and 56 and their lowerStraightening 1011S 35 at their ends in bearings rolls 50, 49, 48 willbe increased, thereby gradulameS 94- AbOVel Straightening rolls 35 andally decreasing the depth or magnitude of the staggered thereto arelocated supporting rolls waves to which the work sheet is subjected by|03, 38 and 39. In order to increase their stiffthe preceding rolls 35as well as roll 58. In order neSS, these Supporting IOllS arecomparatively to produce a flat sheet, the distance between the shortand three such short backing rolls are exit roll trio 56, 49, 48 isselected as a general rule about equal to the thickness of material tobe straightened. 'However, this amount of adjustment depends to a greatextent on the hardness and onthe condition of the work material so thatit is essential for eflicient operation to Two worms A24 are secured toeach shaft 25 and 26. The latter are mounted in suitable bearings 21.Both shafts carry respective helical gears 28 and 29 which in turnengage respective helical gears 30 and 3| on shaft 32 which is locatedat right angles to shafts 25, 25, and rotatably sustained in bearings62.

The left'hand side of the machine, Fig. 2, has been chosen as theoperating side and all controls for the various adjustments areconcentrated thereon. The end of shaft 32 is provided on the operatingside of the machine with a suitable handwheel 33. A rotation thereofwill actuate the gearing described.- whereby the whole upper roll unitmay be raised or lowered as required.

The ends of these backing rolls are held in bearings 40 suitablyfastened to cross beam 34.

Below the upper straightening rolls 35 of the middle section varelocated their cooperating lower straightening rolls 4I, 42, 43, 44rotatably be able to adjust the roll opening of the exit or mounted inbase I6, together'with the remaining delivery roll trio (56, 49, 48) tosuit-the condilower straightening rolls 45, 46, 41, 48, 49, and tion andphysical characteristics of the work ma- 50. All these lowerstraightening rolls are shown terial, without, however, 'being forced todisturb to maintain their horizontal position at all the heightadjustment of the .rolls in the middle times and they are prevented fromsagging under` section of 'the machine. load by means of the lowersupporting rolls 5| Generally speaking it may be/said that the which arein'staggered relation to their straight-v depth or magnitude of thewaves is gradually deening or working rolls, similarly as described increased from a maximum asbetween the roll conjunction with the upperstraightening rolls 35 trio 58, 4I, 58 to zero between exit roll trio56, and their backing rolls ID3, 38, 39. 49, 48.

Referring to Figs. 7, 10 and 11 of the drawings, 'I he left wing 55,Fig. 10, when feeding a sheet the nine upper straightening rolls may beclassifrom left to right, is tilted' upwards around the ed to belong tothree distinctly different secstraightening roll 54. The object of thistilting tions of the machine. Each of -these sections movement, whichmay be the exact duplicate of has to p roduce certain desired effectsduring the that of wing 59 with the apex of the tilting anglestraightening process. also towards the middle section of the machine,

The threev centrally located upper straightenis to graduallyincrease thedepth of the waves ing rolls 35, together with their cooperating lowinthe entering sheet from .zero to maximum. er rolls already described,represent the middle Fig. 10 depicts the distance between the entrysection. Zl'his sectidn has the primary task of roll trio 52, 45, 45 asbeing about a egual to the 'GhOOllghY kneading the work material toelimithickness of material. Consequently, these nrst nate internalstrains, kinks, bends and so forth, rolls will not subject the worksheet to waves, in the work material. When providing 'the but as all thestraightening rolls are individually Straightening rolls with deectingmechanisms driven these entering rolls will grip the sheet and Such as,shown and described for example in my exert traction thereon. The nextrollitrio 4t, 52, Patent No. 2,009,508 of July 30th, 1935, it is' fur-53, however, will produce waves in the sheet. The ther possible toperform a positive stretching depths or magnitudeof lthesewaves howeverare action along the short areas of a distorted work smaller than thoseof the following waves prosheet. The kneading of the material orworkduced by roll trios 53, 45, 41; .41., 58, 54; 54, 41, 44; ing of thesame is accomplished by subjecting and so forth. Each roll trio subjectsthe work the -work sheet to a series of deep transverse material to onewave or one wave-shaped roll Waves or corrugatiOnS aS may be seen inFigs. 10 pass and may comprise one upper and two lower and 12. 'I'hekne'ading effect of a number ofrolls, or one lower and 'two upper rolls,respecdeep wavesfas shown in the illustrations 10 and tively. It-will benoted that due to the close- 12 Works the material t0 much higherdegree' center, staggered arrangement of the upper and ,than the Sami?number 0f graduallydecreasing lower rows of straightening rolls inrollerlevelers, waves., A better straightening result will thereeachroll, with the exception of the first and the fore be obtained with thesame number of last roll 45 and 48, rpectively, forms part ofStraightening IOllS- more than one rolltrio and participates thereforevThe thlie upper Straightening'llls 52. 53., 54 .in more than one rollpass. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 belong t0 the left Wing 55. The threeworkingA s how that the work material is bent in reversed rolls 56, 51and 58 form part of the right wing or directions between successive rolltrios. The eftilting frame v59., g fect of the gradual increase in wavedepth on the Depending on the feeding direction, left and entry side ofthe machine is to facilitate feeding "aisance of the stock, eliminatingsuch'means as pinch rolls and the like used and required heretofore.

. Furthermore, the traction developed on the sheet by the first entryroll trio will help to bend the work sheet around the lsecond roll trio(48, 52, 53).

However, as the traction obtained by these twov roll trios isconsiderably greater than required to produce the formation of thecomparatively small corrugation'in the second roll trio (46, 53,- 52),

there is an accumulation of surplus of traction available to carry thework sheetl through the subsequent rolls without slipping. Theobjectionable entry marks on the work sheet are thereby eliminated witha resulting saving due to the.

A2 and 3, and connected` to a transmission device (not shown) bycoupling spindlesl. Due to the close center distances of thestraightening'rolls and the greater center distances of the drivingspindles on the transmission devicefon account of the gearing requiredfor driving each spindle individually, the operating angles of thedriving spindles and consequently those of the universal couplings forthe straightening rolls in the right and left wings 55 and 59respectively, are greater than those in the middle section of themachine (Fig. 3). However, contrary to conventional designs, in thearrangement shown the loads to be carried by the spindles of greateroperating angle are smaller than those carried by the spindles whichpossess a smaller driving angle.

With respect to the angles of inclination which the left and right wingsand their straightening rolls form with the lower straightening rolls,it

- will be understood, that these angles may be identical as shown inFigs. 10 and l2. This is especially desirablevwhenv the machine is to befrequently reversed. When working for ak longer period of time in thesame direction, the entry wing may form a'smallei` or larger angle ofin- This depends gagement by means of respective bifurcated levers 13,14, Fig. 8. These levers are fastto respective clutch rods 15, 16, eachof which has at its operating end a respective hand lever 11, 18, Fig.3. The clutch rods are supported in suitable bearings 19, near theoperating end of the machine,

while the opposite clutch rod ends are rotatablymounted in the gearbracket 80, fastened to the top surface of cross beam 3,4.

Gear bracket 80 also supports shaft '61 with its worms and clutches inbearings |04 and carries in its base thelrotatable shaft 8| vwhichactuates primarily on the hardness of the material. While I it may bepossible to diminish the angle of inclination of the entry wing-comparedto that of the exit Wing when comparatively soft material is attenedwhichl requires less force to bend the same around the entry roll triosor if entry marks are not objectionable, it may be necessary to increasethe anglev of inclination of the' entry wing when handling hardermaterial. If the straightening*4 of hard material represents themajority of'work, the number of straightening rolls in both wings mayalso be increased to interpose more steps for the gradual increase ofwave depth from zero tomaximum. 1

To oscillate wings and 59 around the longitudinal axes of respectivestraighteningrolls 54, 58, respective gear segments 83, 64 may bemounted on top of these wings (Fig. 1). Worms 85; 66

are in engagement with these gear segments. The helix angle of both gearsegments and Worms vis of a degree so asto make the same self-locking.Worms 65,166 are free on shaft 61 and may be .engaged and disengaged byrespective jaw clutches 68, 69. The slidable clutch 'members 10, 1| ofsaid jaw clutches are guided in keyways 12 and are each moved into andout of clutch en- .movement of these wings.

the wing adjustment. A helical gear 82 is fast to the bracket end ofthis shaft 8|. A similar gear 83, which is shown to be located in themiddle of shaft 61 is in engagement with gear 82.

" Shaftl is maintained in bearings 84 and is provided at the .operatingside ofthe machine with a suitable handwheel 85 for the rotation of saidshaft and gears. i

Levers` 11, 18, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are shown in horizontal positions,holding the jaw clutches in a disengaged position. By raising one orboth of these hand levers 11218, one or both jaw clutches may be engagedand when turning handwheel 85, one or bothwings may be inclined asdesired. The arrangement of separate jaw clutches for each wing makes itpossible to tilt both wings to the same.angle of inclination or todifferent angles as required by the particular characteristics of thework sheet to be flattened.

Both wings 55 and 59 arein sliding engagement with adjusting blocks 20in the manner .illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Each wing is suspended ateach.

of its ends on two rods 86,-Fig. 4. Nuts 81, resting on the top surfaceof adjusting blocks 20 per-:1

mit adjustmentr of rods 86 in vertical directions. The rods 86 sustain aroller 88 which is rotatable on trunnions 89 in bearings 90. Rollers 88rest on cylindrical surfaces 9| which iorm part ofthe Wings. Thefulcrums of thesliding surfaces 9| coincide with the longitudinal axesof straightening rolls 54 and 58 respectively. The sliding surfaces 92on each wing arealso cylindrical and the fulcrums thereof are alsothecenters of respective-rolls 54 and 58. l

The sliding surfaces 92 at the ends of each wing, Fig. 9, bear againstsurfaces of identical contours on the height `adjustment blocks 20.Suitable gibs or plates 93, fastened to these blocks prevent the wingsfrom dislocation.

In order to maintain the three sections of the upper straightening rollsagainst lateral -movement, the bearing frames 94, carrying thestraightening rolls 35 of the middle section, and bearing frames .95 inwhich the straightening rolls of the other sections are rotatablymounted, engage each other on cylindrical sliding surfaces 96. Thefulcrums of these sliding surfaces co-` incide with the respectivestraightening roll 'axes 54, 58.' f

As the backingrolls 91, 98 and 99; and |00, |0'| and. |02 respectively,are mounted in wings 55 and 59 respectively, they will follow thetilting Consequently, when tilting the wings, backing rolls 99 and |00,respectively, will be moved towards stationary back- Aao ing rolls -|03land 39,'respectively, of the middle f section. However, due to thecommon-fulcrums of sliding surfaces `92, ,9| and 96 the center distancesbetween straightening rolls 54,58 and their backing rolls 99, |00,respectively, will always remain the same', as backing rolls 99, |00will move` in an arc around the centers of their respectivestraightening rolls 54, 58. Thereby, the straightening. rolls 5I and 58will always be eifectively supported, regardless of Whether all theupper rolls are in neutral locations or whether one or both wings havebeen tilted.

Plates or stop members |05 located at the outer bottom portion of blocks20 positively locate each wing in its horizontal position. Thishorizontal or neutral position of the wings is shown for example inFig. 1. It will be seen that in this neutral position the straighteningrolls carried in the wings are in the same horizontalplane as thestraightening rolls 35 of the middle section and do not form an angle ofinclination with the lower straightening rolls. Y

Plates |05 are of help in locating all upper straightening rolls in onecommon plane which may be desirable after the left or right Wings havebeen adjusted individually to different angles of inclination. 'I'hestop surfaces |06 on the inner, upper portion of Wings and 59 and beam34 of the middle section may also be used for the same purpose.V Arotation of handwheel 85 with both jaw clutches engaged, will tilt oroscillate both wings and raise the outside ends of wings 55 and 59 fromtheir neutral locations shown in Fig. 1 to the angular positionsdepicted in Figs. 10 and 12. The tilting of both entry and exit wingsmay be referred to as double tilting.

Diagrammatc view Il shows the right wing 59 in neutral location, whilethe left wing is tilted. This illustrates the possibility of operatingthe machine either with both entry and exit wings tilted as depicted inFigs. 10 and 12, or only with one wing tilted. It will be realized thatthe oper` ating direction'in Fig. 11 must be from right to' left and maynot be reversed without readjustment of ther'ight wing for iiatteningout the waves in the sheet.

Fig. 12 illustrates a similar arrangement to that correspondingstraightening rolls. In other words, thev supporting rolls are locatedon top of the straightening rolls and are not staggered as shown in theother views. It will be noted that the ldouble tiltingmay be similarlyapplied in this case. Furthermore, roller levelers without any backingor supporting means for the straighten- Iing rolls may be similarlyarranged with double 'obtain the objects of the present invention. A

It will be understood that while in the embodiment of my invention asdisclosed, each of the three sections of the upper straightening rollscomprises three rolls, any desired number of such rolls may @be used foreach section. 'Furthermore, the double tilting may be similarly appliedto the lower straightening rolls, or to both, upper and lowerstraightening rolls. The displaceable straightening rolls on the entryside and on the exit or delivery side may be located in diierentplanesin their neutral position relative `to each 'other and/or themiddle section and not in the same horizontal plane as the remainingstraightening rolls therebetween.

While I have shown and described. by way of example, mechanisms forobtaining the stated ob- `jects, it will be obvious to those skilled inthe I art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of variouschanges and modifications. I desire, therefore, that only suchlimitations shall be placed thereupon as are specically set forth in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent isz" 1. In mechanisms of the characterdescribed, rows of cooperating straightening rolls between which a. worksheet is to pass, the distances between the longitudinal axes of therolls of each of said rows being substantially alike, elements tosustain straightening rolls of said rows on the entry and on thedelivery end of the machine, means to carry the remaining straighteningrolls of said rows, further means to regulate said ele` ments sustainingsaid straightening rolls on the entry and on the delivery end of themachine relative to said means carrying said remaining -straightenigrolls so as to lgradually increase the magnitude Yof each of a series ofWaves to which the material issubjected on the entry side and togradually decrease the magnitude of each of a n series of wavestowardsthe delivery end.

2. In mechanisms of the character described,

rows of cooperating straightening rolls between which a work sheet is topass, separate means for carrying straightening rolls located at eachend of said rows, auxiliary means to sustain the remaining centrallylocated straightening rolls, means to maintain said auxiliary means inneutral location, and common means to displace said separate meansincluding their respective straightening rolls in such a way that thedis- A tances between the cooperating straightening rolls at each endincrease from said centrally located straightening rolls towards eachend. of Fig. 10 with the exception that the supporting l rolls lill-arein the same vertical plane as the I3. In a roller leveler, rows ofstraightening rolls and supporting rolls, including groups ofstraightening rolls and their respective supporting rolls at each end ofone of said rows, means to tilt each of said groups around a respectivefulcrum, said fulcrum being one of the straightening rolls of therespective group.

4. Ina roller leveler, rows of straightening rolls and supporting rollslocated in staggered relation thereto including a group of straighteningrolls and related supporting rolls at each end of one of said rows,means to tilt each of said groups around a` fulcrum formed by thelongitudinal axis of one straightening roll belonging to one group,whereby supporting rolls sustaining' the fulcrum rolls travel in an. arcaround said fulcrum rolls. v

5. In a roller leveler, one middle section and two wings, straighteningrolls and supporting 'rolls carried by said middle section and saidwings Yand forming one row of straightening rolls, curvilinear slidingsurfaces on each of said wings, the

fulcrums of said sliding surfaces of each wing to coincide with `thelongitudinal axis of the respective straightening roll of each of` saidwings which is adjacent to the straightening rollsV of said middlesection.

6. In a roller leveler, a unit of straightening rolls formingarow, meansto adjust said unit inv height, said unit to include one middle sectionand two wing sections to sustain said row -of rolls in groups,curvilinear sliding surfaces on each of aid-wings, said sliding surfacesof each wing to coincide with the longitudinall axis of the respectivestraightening roll of each of said wings which surfaces on the wings andsaid suspension surfaces being identical.

7. In a roller leveler, rows of cooperatingV ama-42o is adjacent to thestraightening rolls of said middle section, curvilinear suspensionsurfaces for each of said wings, the iulcrums of said sliding Ystraightening rolls between which a work sheet is to pass, one left wingelement for sustaining the straightening rolls located at' the left endof one of said rows; one right wing element` for carrying thestraightening rolls located at the right end of said row, one centralframe element to sustain the centrally located straightening rolls ofsaid row,- common means for tilting said left wing element and saidright wing element so that the angles of inclination which thestraightening rolls in both said left and said right wing elements formwith said centrally locatedV straightening rolls, are substantiallyidentical.

8. In a roller leveler, rows of cooperating straightening rolls,sustaining means for one of said rows of straightening rolls, means toadjust said sustaining means including said row ot section.

straightening rolls in height asa unit, one middle section and two wingsections for carryingsaid 'row of straightening rolls in groups, meansto maintain' the respective lateral locations of said middle section andsaid two Wing sections, means to Atilteach of said wing sections upwardsrelativeto said'middle section around a respective fulcrum, said fulcrumof each of said wing sections to coincide with'the longitudinal axis ofthe ref spective straightening roll in each of said wing sections whichis adjacent to thestraightening rolls of said middle section.

9. In mechanisms of the character described, ai' unit comprisingstraightening rolls forming a row.

said unit including one middle section and two wing sections to sustainsaid row of rolls in groups, means for inclining each of said wingsections with respect to said middle'section in such a manner that thelapices of their angles of inclination are 10. In mechanisms of thecharacter described,

. a unit comprising straightening rolls forming a row, said unitincluding two wing'sections to sustain said row of rolls in groups,common means for raising or lowering said two wing sections includingtheir associated straightening rolls, and

further` means for tilting each of said wing sections in such a mannerthatthe apex of-the tilting angle of one of said wings is directedtoward `the apex of the tilting angle of the other wing.

11. In mechanisms of the character described, rows of cooperating andsubstantially equi-distant straightening rolls between which a worksheet is subjected to a series of wave-shaped roll passes, separatemeans for carrying the straight-v ening rolls located at each end ofoneof said rows, auxiliary means to sustain the centrally llocatedstraightening rolls of lsaid row, tilting means including curvilinearguiding elements for each of said separatecarrying means.

12. In mechanisms of the character described, rows of straighteningrolls, supporting rolls arranged in ,staggered order thereto, means .for

carrying the straightening rolls and their respective suppqrting rollslocated at each end of one of said rows, auxiliary means to sustain thecentrally located straightening and supporting rolls of said row,further means to tilt each of said carrying means includingtheir'straightening rolls and `associated supporting rolls with respectto said centrally located rolls, the fulcrum of the directed toward saidmiddle tilting movement of each of said carrying means I being thelongitudinal axis of one of said straightening rolls of said row.

13. In mechanisms of the character described, rows of straighteningrolls between which a work sheet is to pass, series of supporting rollsfor said straightening rolls, said supporting rolls being locatedbetweensuccessive straightening rolls and revolubly engaging the same,means for inclining the straightening rolls and their associatedsupporting rolls located at each end of one of said rows with. respectto the remaining straightening rolls, and further means to maintain thecenter distances of said supporting rolls and their associatedinclinable straightening rolls when said rolls are being inclined.- g`5vllt. In mechanisms of the character described,v a unit comprisingstraightening rolls forming a row, means to adjust said unit in height,said unit including two wing sectionsto sustain said row of rolls ingroups, means to tilt each of said wing sections, the fulcrum of thetilting movement of oneof said wing sections to coincide with thelongitudinal axis of one of said straightening -rolls, and "the fulcrumof the tilting movement of the other wing section to coincide with thelongitudinal axis of anotherof said straightening rolls.

15. In mechanisms of the character described,

rows of cooperating straightening rolls betweeny rolls located at eachend of one of said rows,

auxiliary meansto sustain the remaining centrally located straighteningrolls of said row, and individually operable means'to displace saidseparate means including their respective straightening rolls in such away that the distances between the cooperating straightening rolls ateach end increase from said centrally located straightening rollstowards each end. i

16. In mechanisms of the character described, rows of cooperatingstraightening rolls between which a work sheet is to pass, separatemeans for carrying the straighteningrolls located at eachv end of one ofsaid rows, auxiliary means to sustain the centrally locatedstraightening rolls of said row, means to tilt each of said carryingmeans independently from the other, and common nfeans' group of workingrolls in such a manner that the bending action gradually increases fromzero to a maximum, thereafter continuing the bending action at maximumduring the intermediate straightening step between another group ofrolls, and iinally flattening out the work material between a thirdgroup of rolls, the `iiexing action of which gradually decreases tozero, the while backing up said working rolls intermediate their,

ends toavoid detrimental deflection of said rolls and consequentinjurious action on the work ma terial.

18. The method of treating sheet or strip material which comprisespassing it through a series of roll trios to subject the material towave- 'shaped roll passes, directing a lesser bending action upon thematerial in the first roll trio than in the succeedingintermediate rolltrios in such to a maximum, thereby accumulating a surplus of tractionon the work material, thereafter using said accumulated traction tocarry the work material without slipping through another group ofworking rolls representing the intermediate straightening step andmaintaining the bending action at maximum during this intermediatestraightening stage, nally flattening out the work material between athird group of rolls, the exing action of which gradually zero.

FRIEDRICH K. MUSSNEST.

decreases to l0

